Cravings...

[Catrin]

I've always heard that when we are craving a particular food that we are likely missing something in that food. For some odd reason, I am REALLY craving peanut butter. Have for several weeks now, and I've eaten more of it than I should considering the fat content. I did find a version at Trader Joe's with flax seed in it, so at least that provides a little additional nutritional punch but it just has too much fat in it...

Any ideas what I can replace it with? Perhaps it would be better to simply eat actual nuts rather than nut butter...

[Melalvai]

I don't know what nutrients you might be missing from peanut butter. A lot of my cravings are for foods with no nutritional value.

I've found a couple tricks that work for me with cravings. I tell myself I can have it if I still want it in 2 hours (or 30 minutes, or even 10 minutes). The problem with that is even though I'm no longer craving it 2 hours later, I feel cheated so I have it anyway. So that doesn't always work.

Another trick I learned recently is to imagine myself eating that food. This is based on a study where participants imagined themselves eating 5 M&M's, 30 M&M's, or nothing. Then they were given a bowl of M&M's. The people who imagined eating 30 M&M's ate half as many M&M's as the other 2 groups. This one works better for me because imagining it distracts me from the craving, and then I don't get that cheated feeling.

That might work better if you are naturally gullible. Like me.

[OakLeaf]

Fat, maybe?

Try other sources of healthy fats and see if that satisfies your craving - walnuts, avocados, olive oil, freshly ground flax seeds, chia seeds, Udo's Choice...

You're right that eating whole nuts is a great means of portion control. Gather a bunch of hickories and find yourself a sledgehammer.

[Red Rock]

How about using greek yogurt instead of peanut butter? I tried this and became "hooked" Now I have all of these peanut butter jars around that I will need to use. I have thought about alternating between PB and the GY, that way I don't get sick of one.
Red Rock

[Catrin]

hmmm, it is true that I've been on a very low fat diet for some time - not that I don't always succeed at limiting it to 15%, but that is what I strive for. It may be that is exactly what I am craving. I do love Greek yogurt, and do use quite a bit non-fat yogurt and low-fat Greek yogurt. Perhaps I should mix in a bit more low-fat yogurt and a few more real nuts & other healthy fats into my diet.

I didn't think that it might be the actual fat I am craving - I get more than enough protein so I know that isn't it. I generally use a fat-free spray for cooking, skim milk, no-fat dairy products, etc., etc., etc. I bet that is what I am really craving.

[Tri Girl]

I wonder what I'm needing when I'm craving Nutella... chocolate? fat? protein? deliciousness? So many possibilities.

[KnottedYet]

15% fat.... ouch.

My rule for cravings is: eat.

If the only reason for the craving is from your head, you'll get your fill pretty quick and be done with it. (Eat a whole truck load of chocolate guilt free, and pretty soon you'll be craving steamed broccoli and salads.)

If the craving is from your gut, you'll stop craving when you stop needing something from the item. I crave red meat, beer, and vegetables. If I eat them to contentment (2-3 beers a day, 1 meal with meat, at least one huge plateful of steamed vegetables) my cholesterol improves tremendously and I'm a nicer person.

The important part for me is to dump the guilt. If you snarf the chocolate (or the cheese, or the beer, or the steak, or whatever), but feel guilty the whole time, you won't reach any level of contentment and you'll just keep right on snarfing. Smell the thing. Savor the thing. Take pictures of it. Sing songs of gratitude for it.

Repeat as necessary.

[marni]

I find that if I am craving sweets, it is because I am low in protein. You might also want to try substituting some really garlicky hummus for the peanut butter.

I am slowly learning to fight my cravings by accepting them and giving into to them at highly diminished amounts, slowly and with many pauses to savor Mindufl eating is always good.

Peanut butter in one of my downfalls so good luck with that.

[azfiddle]

mmmmmm Nutella... there is an unopened jar in the pantry....

[Bike Chick]

If I'm craving something and it continues to nag at me, I give in to the craving. I just eat a small amount, savor tiny bites and make it last. If I eat it slowly, I find that I don't even finish it a lot of the time because I get satisfied. I don't try to analyze why or stress over it--that just totally doubles the guilt.

[Crankin]

Catrin, why don't you use a small amount of olive oil to replace that cooking spray? That will up your "good" fat content. I also eat a handful of either walnuts or almonds with dried cranberries for a snack daily. If I am lazy, I buy the Trader Joe's pre-mixed trail mix that comes in little packets, with the above ingredients. It's about 110 calories and some fat, but extremely satisfying. I even eat it on the bike. Since I am allergic to peanuts, this is a great mixture for me.
I also throw the nuts and cranberries into a dish of non fat Greek yogurt for breakfast.

[jessmarimba]

While I "crave" sweet foods, I know that's all in my head. The foods I crave and can't stop craving until I have some are usually vinegar-related. I have no idea what that means.

But peanut butter is a pretty unique taste, and if you were a PB&J kid it might be the "comfort food" factor that is getting you...?

[Catrin]

While I "crave" sweet foods, I know that's all in my head. The foods I crave and can't stop craving until I have some are usually vinegar-related. I have no idea what that means.

But peanut butter is a pretty unique taste, and if you were a PB&J kid it might be the "comfort food" factor that is getting you...?

I wasn't a PB&J kid, though I did love PB sandwiches and tomato soup I suspect that, in the end, it is the fat that I am really craving - I tend to be really strict where this is concerned (at the advice of my nutritionist). I just ran out of PB this morning, and I have chosen to not replace it for now. I mean, I went through an entire jar in a little more than a week

I did, however, just pick up some avocados, walnuts, a trek mix, lofat Kefir and more olive oil. I suspect the cold weather has something to do with this - and there is a role for healthy fats as long as we don't overdo it.

Nutella isn't allowed in my kitchen - it is just TOO yummy to have around

[nscrbug]

I often find myself giving in to my cravings, like many others here do. I just don't see the point of depriving myself of something that I truly want, as it will only lead me to keep eating other things as a substitution until that craving is satisfied (which it usually never is).

I love PB, and I "crave" it nearly everyday...especially after a workout. So, I pretty much eat PB everyday. Mind you, we're not talking about grabbing a spoon and eating it right out of the jar. I will spread a THIN layer of natural (no salt, no sugar added) PB on a piece of toasted Ezekial bread, an unsalted brown ricecake, or a whole wheat mini-bagel. I also will sometimes put a dab of it in my oatmeal at breakfast. Even though I eat it everyday (sometimes 2x a day), it probably takes me a good month to go through an entire jar of PB.

[malkin]

The advice that comes to my mind is:

Sing a hymn.


I have definitely lived in Utah too long!